Freedom

Freedom is a precious possession that must be held close and nurtured.  I have had a life long battle with fear that manifest in a strange way.  When I was born my parents lived with my paternal grandmother.  She insisted that I wear socks 24/7 to prevent me from becoming ill.  I know, crazy huh?  My mom, not wanting to further rock the very precarious boat of her life, complied.  My grandmother, unknowingly opened the door for a spirit of fear to take root in my life.

 

            Over the last 52 years I have tried on multiple occasions to go without socks.  I didn’t shower or swim with them on, lol, however, every other moment I had to have them on.  I always longed to be “normal” and go barefooted.  As I grew up my family and friends teased me about my sock fetish. No one understood how much I longed to be free. 

 

            I worked very hard as a mom to allow my children to go without socks.  I remember the internal struggles I had leaving them barefooted when the weather was nice and allowing them to take off their socks even when it wasn’t  if they chose.  As silly as this may sound to some, it was a very real daily battle for me.  Praise the Lord both of my children enjoy bare feet.  My youngest is more often than not barefooted and loving life. 

 

            My family and I moved to Texas at the beginning of this year.  I have enjoyed a new found freedom in worship and prayer that I hadn’t had for a number of years.  For the past few weeks I have found myself wanting to take off my socks and go barefoot.  I have done so when the desire arose.  At first it felt awkward but as I continued to obey that desire it became easier. 

 

As I sat here this morning, worshipping our amazing Father and praying for those He placed on my heart, I once again felt the desire to remove my socks and walk around as I prayed.  I was enjoying my worship time when the Holy Spirit spoke to me.  He told me that the desire to remove my socks has a direct correlation to the new freedom He is giving me.  My “feet” have been bound by the spirit of fear for far too long and it is time for that fear to be completely broken!!

 

            I am so excited about this new chapter in my life!  Fear is such an ugly monster if we allow it to be.  Our God is always the Victor when we yield to Him and walk “barefoot”, open and vulnerable, in obedience.  The Scripture tells us in 2 Timothy 1:17 that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (self discipline).  We get to choose who we will trust and believe. 

 

             My desire is to see all believers walk in freedom and victory over fear and any other spirit that tries to hold us in bondage.  Jesus has already paid the price.  The Word tells us, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery,” Galatians 5:1.  1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our anxiety on Him because He cares for us.  Philippines 4:6-7 takes it a step further when it says, “Do not be anxious (worried) about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpassed all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

My question for you today is: will you take of your protective “socks” and open your heart to the healing, redeeming, freeing work of our Good, Good Father today?